Toy



Oct. 17, 1961 A. BERTUCCI 3,004,365

TOY

Filed Nov. 18, 1959 INVENTOR.

22 aeayeamfzo.

This invention relates to an amusement device or toy.

This invention is a continuation-in-part and improvement of the Twist-Twirler shown and described in my prior patent application Serial Number 797,549, filed March 5, 1959, and now abandoned.

The object of the invention is to provide a toy which includes a disc that has multi colored balls movably supported thereon, and whereon the disc is adapted to be rotated by action of a cord or line which is suitably actuated, as for example by means of manual pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy which includes a plurality of balls that are adapted to be attractively colored, and when the toy is energized or actuated, the balls will be set in motion so as to impart a highly pleasing and attractive eifect thereto, and wherein the toy may also be provided with means for causing a sound to be emitted when the toy isactuated so as to further increase the eifectiveness and pleasure with which the toy may be used.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a toy which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the invention taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view illustrating one of the balls.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the toy of the present invention which comprises a disc 11, and the disc 11 includes a main flat central portion 12 of circular formation, and the portion 12 is provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures 13 therein for a purpose to be later described.

The disc 11 further includes a pair of annular shoulders 14 which are hollow, and the shoulders 14 are arranged contiguous to the outer periphery of the disc 11. The shoulders may be formed integral with or secured to the portion 12, and it will be seen from FIGURE 1 for example that one of the shoulders 14 is arranged on each side of the portion 12. The interior of the shoulders 14 is hollow as indicated by the numeral 15 so as to define channels or passageways, and a plurality of balls 16 are movably mounted in the passageways 15. As shown in the drawing the balls 16 are attractively colored so as to enhance the effectiveness of the toy when same is actuated. For example, the balls 16 may have one half colored blue as indicated by the numeral 17 in FIGURE 1, and the other half may be colored green as indicated by the numeral 18. It is to be understood that the balls may have other contrasting colors, as for example one half of the ball may be colored black while the other half may be colored purple, or as shown in FIGURE 3 one half of a ball may be colored yellow while the other half may be colored red. The provision of such colors serve to produce a changing rainbow efli'ect at each reverse of rotation of the toy. The shoulders 14 are adapted to be made of a transparent material such as transparent plastic so that these changing colors can be readily observed.

There is further provided a cord or line 20, and portions of the cord 20 extend through the apertures 13 in the disc 11. The shoulders 14 are provided with openings 19 which are arranged in spaced apart relation with respect to each other, FIGURE 2. Clips 21 are arranged in engagement with the cord 20, and the clips 21 are positioned on one side of the portion 12. The numeral 22 indicates hand grips or handles which are connected to ends of the cord- 20, and the bushings or clips 23 are mounted on the cord 20, the bushings 23 being spaced inwardly from the hand grips 22.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a toy which will provide amusement and recreation to the users or onlookers. In use, with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that by gripping the members 22, the cord 20 can be made to wind up or unwind and this action of the cord 20 will result in clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the disc 11. The disc 11 includes the pair of shoulders 14 which have the balls 16 mounted in their passageways 15, so that as the disc 11 turns back and forth, the balls 16 wiH travel around the passageways 15 so as to add to the enjoyment from the toy. The transparent shoulders 14 permit the contrasting colors of the balls 16 to readily showup in the most advantageous manner. The openings V 19 may impart a whistling sound as the toy is actuated.

The parts may be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The clips 21 and 23 may be made of metal, plastic or the like.

The provision of the balls 16 with the different colors thereon permit the present invention to be used or played as a game. Furthermore, ditferent types of stunts can be performed by arranging the device in an upright position and by using the feet and hands. Thus, by standing on one foot and engaging the other foot with the gripping member 22, the disc may be rotated or else a cross leg movement can be brought about. For example assuming that the right foot is in the foot hold, and with the disc in motion the left foot can be moved to cross the right foot and then the right hand automatically moves in back of the user so that a person will be in a forward bending position and the body will swerve sideways or from side to side with each pull and letup of the cord. Also, the user can attempt to change the foot from one member 22 to another while the disc is in motion and without stopping the disc, or a person can sit down and get some foot exercise as for example a person may sit on a chair while the disc is in motion and take the hand oit of the member 22 and engage one of the feet without stopping the disc so that various types of leg exercises can be taken advantage of.

The clips 21 help hold the disc 11 in its proper position intermediate the ends of the cord. The openings 19 provide a buzzing or whistling sound as the disc rotates.

The toy is adapted to be worked in an upright position with the hand and foot and the clips 21 serve to hold the disc in an upright level position, without such clips the disc would tilt and fall to the floor. The clips are placed on the cord directly in alignment with the disc at the cord apertures or holes 13 and serve to hold the disc upright and level so as to permit the toy to be used in an upright position with the hand and foot. The entire disc 11 may be molded of a suitable plastic and by twisting and twirling the device the disc will be given the desired rotation. The disc will stay in motion as long as the elasticity is maintained and the elastic effect permits the toy to be used as an exerciser, and it can be worked with a foot and one hand or with two hands and it can be worked sitting down, standing, walking or lying down. The toy may be made silent or it can be made so that it produces a sound when actuated and a silent type of disc will be made solid without holes and the edges are adapted to be rounded and smooth. The disc which makes sound is hollow as for example at the points 15 and it has the air holes19 so asto buzzor hum orwhistle, as it moves, and a suitable musical sound producing device may also be incorporated in the disc. Colors are preferably bright and attractive and when the disc is in motion all of the colors blend together. The rotation of the disc is brought about by alternately elongating and shortening the cord so as to cause the disc to revolve in alternate opposite directions. r

The balls 16 are adapted to be inserted through one of the openings 19' which is larger than the other openings 19. That is, one of the sound holes or openings as indicated by the numeral '19 is adapted to be made of a sufficiently large diameterv so that the balls 16 can be inserted in the'passageways and one of the larger openings may be arranged on top as well as on the bottom of the device so as to make the balls to be placed in the passageways when desired. As shown in FIGURE 4 for example a plug 24 which may be made of plastic or the like may be used for closing ofi the opening 19' so as to prevent the balls from accidently passing outwardly through these openings 19'. Or, a strip of transparent adhesive tape 25 may be used to cover the opening 19 when desired. The plug and tape may thus be removed and replaced whenever desired or required. The openings 19 will produce a whistling sound when the disc rotates. The clips 21 are fastened to the disc 11 in any suitable manner, so that the cord, clips and disc all move in unison.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

In a toy, a disc including aima in flat central portion of circular formation provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures, enlarged, circular hollow transparent shoulders arranged contiguous to the outer periphery of said disc, there being one of said shoulders on each side of the disc, whereby said disc forms a partition between said shoulders, said shoulders being hollow and defining therein circular passageways, 7 a plurality of balls movably mounted in said passageways, the outer surface of said balls beingequally divided into contrasting colors, there being a plurality of spaced apart openings in said shoulders, a cord having portions thereof extending through the apertures in said disc, clips engaging said cord and positioned contiguous to the disc, a pair of spaced apart hand grips connectedto said cord, and bushings engaging said cord and spaced from said hand grips.

- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 455,943 Hill July 14, 1891 617,069 g Albl'ell .Q. Jan. 3, 1899 911,582 Evans Feb. 9, 1909 11,686,890 WOOd Oct. 9, 1928 I p FOREIGN PATENTS 14,156 Great Britain 1911 

